Read for Your Life: 11 Ways to Better Yourself Through Books

253 Pages·2007·1.21 MB·English

by  Pat Williams

Table of Contents

What People Are Saying About Read for Your Life
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Foreword
Acknowledgements

Read for Your Life Way No. 1: Get Over the Fear Factor
Introduction: The Trouble with Reading
Warning Signs We May Have Missed
What About You?
Chapter 1 - The Startling Truth About Tomorrow
Watching Is Not Reading
Books Need to Be First Choice
Reading Is Radical
The Fear Factor: So What Can I Do About It?

Read for Your Life Way No. 2: Combat the Reality Factor
Chapter 2 - The Battle for Hearts and Minds
Illiteracy: A War We Have Yet to Win
Trends That Spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Life Interrupted
Reading Opens Doors to Your Future
Chapter 3 - It’s Up to You!
Books Are Healthy Choices!
Books Are a Source of Continuing Education
The Reality Factor: So What Can I Do About It?
Read for Your Life Way No. 3: Remember the Why Factor
Chapter 4 - Read to Feed Your Mind
Read to Change Your Life
Read to Grow
Read to Build Your Mind
Read to Live Longer
Read to Connect with Others
Read to Make Friends and Meet Influential People
The Why Factor: So What Can I Do About It?

Read for Your Life Way No. 4: Resolve the When Factor
Chapter 5 - Finding Time
Make Time!
Tools for Reading Anytime, Anywhere
How Much Time Do I Need?
Look for Empty Time to Fill with Books
Will I Ever Have Read Enough?
Tips to Make Reading a Daily Decision
Chapter 6 - How to Choose Reading When Everything Else Is Screaming Louder
Read When You Feel Powerless
Read When You Have a Need
Read When You’re Stuck on “Same”
The When Factor: So What Can I Do About It?

Read for Your Life Way No. 5: Discover the Where Factor
Chapter 7 - Travel the Globe—in the Pages of a Book
Boldly Go Where You’ve Never Gone Before—in a Book
Read to Succeed
The Where Factor: So What Can I Do About It?

Read for Your Life Way No. 6: Explore the What Factor
Chapter 8 - Read Books That Illuminate Yesterday
Choose Books That Remind You of Your Place in Time
Chapter 9 - Read Books That Illustrate Today
Choose Books That Challenge You to Change Your World
Choose Books That Ask the Right Questions
Ask Yourself the Best Question Ever
Choose Books That Give Us the Answers
Chapter 10 - Read Books That Inform Tomorrow
The Classics
The Bible
New Releases
Bestsellers
Choose Books That Uncover Truth
Choose Books That Can Change Tomorrow
The What Factor: So What Can I Do About It?

Read for Your Life Way No. 7: Meet the Who Factor
Chapter 11 - Books Help You Be More YOU
Books Reveal the Real YOU
Books Introduce You to Fascinating People
Get to Know Writers
Chapter 12 - Meet a Few People Who Care About Reading
George Washington
James Madison
Benjamin Franklin
Abraham Lincoln
Harry S. Truman
Winston Churchill
George S. Patton
Billy Graham
James A. Garfield
Note to Bookstore Owners: Tap into the Power of Personality
Chapter 13 - Meet a Few Sports Authorities
Meet a Few Surprising Examples
Putting Their Muscle into Better Minds
The Read to Achieve Pledge
The Who Factor: So What Can I Do About It?

Read for Your Life Way No. 8: Learn the How Factor
Chapter 14 - Read as if Your Life Depends on It
Read Interactively
Read Reflectively
Read with a Servant’s Heart
Endless Possibilities
Chapter 15 - How to Make Reading a Regular Part of Your Life
The How Factor: So What Can I Do About It?

Read for Your Life Way No. 9: Define the New You Factor
Chapter 16 - New Goals for a New You
Action 1: Pat’s Lifetime Reading Challenge
Why an Hour?
Yes, You Can
Chapter 17 - Practical Pointers for Your Reading Journey
Action 2: Your Personal Speed-Reading Course
Action 3: How to Navigate a Bookstore
One More Thing . . . Before You Walk In
What’s in Store?
Staying in the Game
Action 4: Your Library Card—Don’t Leave Home Without It
The New You Factor: So What Can I Do About It?

Read for Your Life Way No. 10: Share the Beyond Factor
Chapter 18 - Multiplying Your Influence
Action 5: Leave a Reading Legacy
Help Kids Learn to Love Books and Reading
Venus and Mars
In the School
In the Home
Be a Reading Hero
The Beyond Factor: So What Can I Do About It?

Read for Your Life Way No. 11: Keep It Going—The Final Factor
Chapter 19 - Hope Is in Sight
Get Involved
Hope for Greater Literacy
Read the Signs
New Trends in Learning
Low-Tech Books in a High-Tech World
Hope in the Headlines
Hope at Any Age
Hope at Any Stage
Chapter 20 - The End Result
Learning Is a Lifelong Occupation
You’re Never Too Old—or Too Young—to Learn!
Books Offer Connectivity
Books Reveal Secrets
Books Help Us Learn to Dream Higher and Dig Deeper
Real Books Make Real Learning Faster
Books Unlock Your Imagination
Focused Learning Leads to Powerful Living
The End Result Is Only the Beginning!
Get Ready to Change Your Life

Afterthoughts
Bibliography
Resources
For Further Information
What People Are Saying About Read for Your Life
“I learned at an early age the importance of good books for personal growth.
Regular reading has been a personal discipline I’ve practiced for over four
decades. No matter where you want to go in life, reading the right books will
help you get there. Pat Williams’s book Read for Your Life will help you learn
how to make the most of your reading experience.”
—John C. Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author

“Reading is the skill that makes life magnificent, enjoyable, adventurous, and
enchanted. I invite you to become a great and inspired reader by drinking in the
wisdom of my brilliant and funny friend, Pat Williams.”
—Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator, #1 New York Times bestselling
Chicken Soup for the Soul series cocreator, Cracking the Millionaire
Code and The One Minute Millionaire

“Pat Williams has finally used everything I taught him about writing and has
produced a book a writer has to endorse. Don’t miss this one.”
—Jerry B. Jenkins, bestselling author of the Left Behind series

“Pat Williams has a magical way to capture the imaginations of his readers.
He wields that magic in his latest work, Read for Your Life. You will enjoy the
various facets he explores. Pat is awesome, baby!”
—Dick Vitale, ESPN college basketball analyst and sports celebrity

“If your eyes are up to it, then read Read for Your Life, because it goes from
your eyes to your heart and your brain and your funny bone to your loneliness,
and perhaps even to your conscience. Read it!”
—Mike Wallace, former 60 Minutes journalist and CBS News correspondent
emeritus

“I grew up in a reading family, but until I read Pat Williams’s new book I
never realized how important reading is to every area of our lives. Very few
books are life-changers, but this one is.”
—Grant Hill, Orlando Magic superstar

“As Pat Williams suggests, reading is as necessary as air to the examined life.
Where else or how else can you traverse the woods with the Deerslayer, sail with
Jack London, and pitch for the Yankees without leaving your pillow? Reading is
your ticket everywhere.”
—Mike Veeck, Marketing wizard and baseball owner and consultant

“As the old saying goes, ‘Leaders are readers.’ Pat Williams makes that
abundantly clear in his encouraging new book, Read for Your Life. After reading
these pages, I guarantee you’ll become a more inspired and motivated reader—
and leader.”
—Ken Blanchard, Coauthor of The One Minute Manager and Leading
at a Higher Level

“Anything that strengthens reading strengthens our country. I’m for that, and
if this book creates one more reader, then it deserves our praise.”
—Ken Burns, legendary documentary filmmaker

“I am a lover of books, and this project by Pat Williams is a great one. This
wonderful, warm, witty book instructs and inspires you to be a better, more avid
reader all of your life.”
—Brian Tracy, author of The Power of Charm
“Not many people could make reading sound “magical,” but Pat Williams has.
I’m going to get this book in every parent’s hands I know to make sure they get
the message.”
—Brian Kilmeade, cohost of Fox & Friends in the Morning and author
of The Games Do Count

“In a time when machines are taking over the world, Pat Williams explains to
kids why they must read to succeed. Parents, use that rhyme and buy Pat’s book
for your children.”
—Bill O’Reilly, anchor, Fox News Channel

“A terrific book. An important book. One that should be read by every parent,
especially those with young children.”
—Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, University of
Southern California, and author of On Becoming a Leader

“Pat Williams is a very successful author, having authored forty-plus books,
but this one, Read for Your Life, is his best and will have a positive impact on
your life.”
—Lou Holtz, former University of Notre Dame Head Coach and college
football personality